Bratislav Gašić, Serbia’s Minister of Defense, stated that the primary internal security threat facing the country is what he described as the “process of the attempted secession” of Kosovo. His remarks came during a meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto held in Belgrade, according to a statement from Serbia’s Ministry of Defense.
During the meeting, Gašić emphasized that the security of all citizens in Kosovo—regardless of nationality or religion—falls exclusively under the responsibility of the KFOR mission, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Military-Technical Agreement. He also expressed appreciation for the continued and long-standing presence of Italian armed forces within the KFOR mission.
The Serbian defense minister further stated that Serbia remains committed to a policy of military neutrality, while at the same time continuing to develop and strengthen relations with other countries and military-political alliances in accordance with its national interests and with the aim of enhancing global, regional, and national security.
Gašić also thanked Italy for its ongoing support of Serbia’s European integration process, noting that the Ministry of Defense contributes to this strategic objective through participation in missions and operations under the framework of the European Union, thereby helping to promote a more secure environment.
For his part, Crosetto said that Italy views Serbia as an important partner in the region, highlighting that the two countries share traditionally strong and friendly relations. He also conveyed Italy’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral military cooperation in the field of defense.
According to the statement, the ministers also discussed the broader security situation in the region and exchanged views on current global geopolitical developments, including the conflict in the Middle East.
